Lubricator device



July 24, 1956 H. N. sTANsBuRY, JR., ETAL LUBRICATOR DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 25, 1952 TTEST:

cfa/Unzer A TTORNEY H, N. STANSBURY, JR., ETAL July 24, 1956 LUBRICATOR DEVICE Filed July 25, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l 25 Hmz 5 if l 5. l. 24 a Fie. 4

INVENTORS HARRY N. STANSBURY JR. JACK C. WEBBER ATTORNEY VLUBRICTOR DEVICE Harry N. Stansbury, Jr., Dallas, and .lack C. YWebber,

Houston, Tex., assignors to'The Atlantic'Refiningv vCompany, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of'Pennsylvania VApplication July 25, v1952,*Serial No.,300,'832

8 Claims. V(Cl.`16692.)

This invention relates to the yinsertionofmasses into wells and more particularly tonovel means'forinserting treatingmasses in the form of `substantially elongated cylindrical sticks into an oil or gas well, or the like.

Treating sticks, and the like, heretofore have been `introduced into wells through the use of so-called lubricators. A lubricator, .as is known kto those skilled in the art, is merely a section of pipe, several feet in length, which is adapted to be secured to the upper endof a well conduit above the swab -valve and in which articles may be sealed and thereafter dropped into the well by opening of the swab valve. inthe-case of a well into which articles are dropped periodically, kas -for instance in the case of a well into which corrosion inhibiting materials are placed periodically, it is customary to install la lubricator on the upper end of the -well conduit-and leave it inplace as a more or less permanent installation. When it is desired to insert an article, such as a corrosion inhibitor stick into the -well,-the closure,-usually abull plug, at the upper end of the lubricator is removed, the article placed in the lubricator,and the closure member-replaced. ri`hereafter, upon opening of the swab valve, the article in the lubricator drops into the well through the well conduit While the presence of the-sealed llubricator secured to the upper end-ofthe well conduit serves to maintain control of the well.

After the article has passed into the well, the swab valve is again closed, after which pressure in thelubricator may be bled olf, usually through a relief valveprovided in the -wall thereof. Upon closing vof the relief valve after pressure in the lubricator has been 'reduced to atmospheric the closureat the upperend` of the lubricator may again be removed and another 'article placed therein for insertion into the well.

lt is frequently desirable to insert several corrosion inhibitor sticks of considerable length into a well simultaneously, and it will be appreciated that the lubricator required thereforwill have its upper end ata considerable height above the ground. Thus, it becomes'a difiicult and tedious operation, requiring the use of a ladder, to .load the conventional lubricator into which articles. are placed by lowering through the upper end thereof.

Accordingly, it is one 'object of the 'present invention to provide novel means for inserting treatingmasses into a well and which is adapted to overcome theaforementioned diiculties.

Another object of theinven'tion-is to providesuch `insertion means which may be more easily loaded than the conventional lubricators.

A further object of the invention is to Vprovide -means for inserting a treating mass in the form of a substantially elongated cylindrical stick into a well, which means Vis constructed and .arranged so that the treating sticks may be loaded thereinto at the lower open end.

Other objects and features of the inventionwill beapparent from the following'description, and theaccompanying drawings, in which:

2,755,863 rWPatented `l'uly 24, 1956 ICC jpre'ferredform of theznovelmeans of-this invention'for inserting-treatingmasses-*into wells, showing-such means "inalignmentwith, and 'connected to, the well conduit; Figure 2 is another elevation of the insertion means ofi Figure 1,-`s'howingsuch` means disconnectedfrom, and moved-out ofalignment with the lwell conduit;

-Figure 3 is an elevationof another embodiment-ofthe novelinsertion-means, "showing such means -in alignment with, and connected'to,.the well conduit; and

Figure 4fis another-,elevation of the insertion means of Figure "3, V`showing Vvsuch means disconnected lfrom, and out of alignment lwith, thewell conduit.

`Brie'iiy, the presenti invention `provides -ia .novel Vmeans forinserting a treating mass,or the like, inthe form of a substantiallyelongated cylindrical stick into awell having a conduit-terminating above the lwellhead 1in a jfree end'and a valve'in the conduit adjacent to the wellhead Vfor controllingfflow through the conduit, and which means is`constructed and-arranged so as to enablean operator Iniemberwhich is adaptediformovementadjacentto the free tend of the wellconduit upon movement ofthe tubular member into axial alignment with the `well conduit -being openin 'a' manner to provide unrestricted communication betweenthe tubular member andthe well conduit, the

'opposite end Vof the tubular member 'being closed, and

detachable sealing means for sealing the tubular member into axial alignment with the well conduit, the tubular member when moved out of alignment with the well conduit kbeing adapted to be moved to a position to permit the'insertion therein 'of the treating mass.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly at thisA time to Figures l and 2,numera1'1 refers, `injgeneral, to a wellhead forming the upper end of a 4well conduit`and which is secured to the upper end of a well tubing "2.

Wellhea'd 1 has a sealing adapter 3 Aatits upper end and a swab valve '4 interposed "therein below the sealing adapter.

Sealed to sealing adapter 3: as,for example, by a detachable sealing'means comprising wash Ynipples and coupling nut, is the novel insertion means, denoted generally by "numeral`7, of this "invention for inserting 'treating'masses into the kwell throughtubing'Z. "insertion means 7 includes a-tubular member4 8, closed at its upper endzbybull plug 9 or other suitable'meansand open atthe other end. Exhaust valve 10, which may be selectively opened to Vprovide communication between'theA interior and exterior of tubular-member a, is'connected in `the wallof tubular member 8 intermediate 'the ends-thereof, as for instance 'by "nipple 1l.

YIntermediate vthe ends of tubular member f8 there-is provided'guide sleeve 12which engages' tubular member 8 with a sliding t. Sleeve 12. is.connected with an L- shaped pivot element comprising, for example, n ipplel, elbow lll, and downwardly extending 'hollow mandrel 15. MandrellS is adapted to telescope over, and rotate about, shaft 16 which is preferably cylindrical in form and is secured adjacent, Aor directly, to the wellhead .by any suitable means, such, for example, as to sealing adapter 3 `by bracket'17, bolt 18, and nut i9. .The extent to -which hollow mandrel 1'5 may pass .downwardly over shaft Y16 is preferably limited as by stopcollar 20 securedv at any .convenientheight along shaft 416 by,set screwZl.

`Stop collar 2.2;issecured to-tubular;'member 8, 4for example, by set screw 23, above guide sleeve 12 and compression spring 24 is interposed between upper flange 25 of guide sleeve 12 and the lower shoulder of stop collar 22, such that spring 24 tends to move tubular member 8 longitudinally upwardly with respect to guide sleeve 12.

In Figure 2, the apparatus of Figure 1 is shown with the various elements in their respective positions when the novel insertion means 7 is out of alignment with well tubing 2, that is, with tubular member 3 disconnected from sealing adapter 3 and pivoted through an angle of 90 about shaft 16. It will be noted that tubular member 8 is longitudinally lifted slightly with respect to its position as shown in Figure 1 by expansion of spring 24 upon release of nut 6 from sealing adapter 3.

In explaining the operation of the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures l and 2, it will be assumed that the apparatus is initially in the position as shown in Figure 1 and that swab valve 4 is open, whereby the interior of tubular member 8 is at wellhead pressure. Under such conditions, and desiring to inject a treating mass, such as a corrosion inhibitor stick, into well tubing 2, the operator iirst closes swab valve 4. Thereafter, exhaust valve 10 is opened to bleed olf from the interior of tubular member 8 the high pressure existing therein and reduce it to atmospheric pressure. Tubular member S is then detached from the wellhead by proper manipulation of nut 6, after which the force of spring 24, bearing upon the upper iiange 25 of sleeve 12, will lift tubular member 8 suiciently to move nut 6 clear of the upper end of sealing adapter 3.

Tubular member 8 is then swung out of alignment with tubing 2 through the rotation of hollow mandrel 15 about shaft 16. With tubular member 8 thus swung out of its normal position, the inhibitor stick or other mass, may be freely inserted into the lower open end thereof without interference from other parts of the wellhead structure.

After the desired treating mass or masses have been loaded into the tubular member 8, it is swung back into alignment with tubing 2 and lowered against the force of spring 24, to permit engagement of nut 6 with sealing adapter 3. After thus sealing tubular member 8 to sealing adapter 3 and closing exhaust valve 10, swab valve 4 is opened whereby the treating masses previously deposited in tubular member 8 may pass downwardly into tubing 2.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 3 and 4, sleeve 42 is pivotally secured to the upper end of rectangular bar 26 as for instance by shaft 27, which passes through the upper end of rectangular bar 26 and a pair of longitudinally extending flanges 28 which may be integral with, or otherwise secured, as by welding, to sleeve 42. Also integral with sleeve 42, or secured thereto, as for instance by welding, is a horizontally extending flange 29 having threaded holes 30 and 31 extending therethrough to accommodate threaded set screws 32 and 33, respectively. Set screws 32 and 33 are provided with lock nuts 34 and 35, respectively, whereby they may be locked at any desired position, as will be explained hereinafter. Rectangular bar 26, in turn, is fastened at its lower end by bolt and nut assembles 36 and 37 to upright 38 which is secured to bracket 17 by welding or other suitable means.

The operation of this embodiment of the device is similar to the operation of the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 so far as manipulation of the valves 4 and 10 is concerned and also so far as concerns sealing and unsealing of tubular member 8 and sealing adapter 3, and the action of spring 24. However, in this embodiment of the invention, the lower open end of tubular member 8 is made available for the insertion of the desired treating masses by tilting of tubular member 8 in a clockwise direction about shaft 27 at the upper end of rectangular bar 26. The extent to which tubular member 8 may be tilted out of alignment with tubing 2 is determined by the setting of set screw 32, the lower end of which is adapted to bear upon the upper end 39 of rectangular bar 26. The function of set screw 33 is to limit the counterclockwise rotation of tubular member 8 about shaft 27 to stop the tubular member in the vertical position and thereby facilitate its connection to sealing adapter 3.

lf desired, bolt and nut assembly 36 may be removed and tubular member 8 pivoted about bolt and nut assembly 37 in a clockwise direction whereby to displace the entire assembly from its position atop the wellhead, as might be required when it is desired to secure another device, such as a wire line lubricator or a pressure gage to sealing adapter 3. Lower stop collar 40, secured as by set screw 41, is provided on tubular member 8 to limit the extent of movement of tubular member 8 through sleeve 42 on those occasions when the entire assembly is swung out of position about bolt and nut assembly 37.

While there have been shown and described two preferred embodiments of the apparatus of this invention, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that many minor changes and alterations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

We claim:

1. Means for inserting a treating mass in the form of a substantially elongated cylindrical stick into a well through a well conduit including a vertical string of well tubing and valve means in said well conduit adjacent the upper end of said tubing and adapted to control ow through said conduit, said means comprising a support element rigidly attached to said conduit and carrying a pivot, an elongated tubular member, connecting means having one extremity attached to said tubular member and the opposite extremity mounted on said pivot and rotatable thereon in a manner such that said tubular member may be alternately moved into and out of axial alignment with said well conduit, said tubular member being sealed at its upper end and open at its lower end to permit insertion of said treating mass when said tubular member is out of axial alignment with said conduit and unrestricted passage of said treating mass from said tubular member into said conduit when said tubular member is in axial alignment with said conduit, detachable sealing means on said tubular member for connecting the lower end of said tubular member to the upper free end of said conduit in substantially duid-tight relationship when said tubular member is in axial alignment with said conduit, and resilient means on said tubular member adapted to cause limited longitudinal movement of said tubular member away from the upper free end of said conduit upon detachment of said sealing means.

2. Means in accordance with claim 1 wherein the conduit terminates in a threaded free end above the valve means and the sealing means is a threaded member adapted to engage said threaded free end of said conduit.

3. Means for inserting a treating mass in the form of a substantially elongated cylindrical stick into a well through a well conduit including a vertical string of well tubing and valve means in said well conduit adjacent the upper end of said tubing and adapted to control low through said conduit, said means comprising a support element rigidly attached to said conduit and carrying an upstanding cylindrical shaft, an elongated tubular member, a guide sleeve on said tubular member adapted to permit limited longitudinal movement of said tubular member, an L-shaped arm rigidly attached to said guide sleeve at one end and having its opposite end adapted for telescoping engagement with said upstanding shaft whereby said tubular member may be alternately moved into and out of axial alignment with said well conduit, said tubular member being sealed at its upper and and open at its lower end to permit insertion of said treating mass when said tubular member is out of axial alignment with said conduit and unrestricted passage of said treating mass from said tubular member into said conduit when said tubular member is in axial alignment with said conduit,

detachable sealing means on said tubular member for connecting the lower end of said tubular member to the upper free end of said condi: it in substantially Huid-tight relationship when said tubular member is in axial alignment with said conduit, and resilient means on said tubular member adapted to cause limited longitudinal movement of said tubular member away from the upper free end of said conduit upon detachment of said sealing means.

4. Means in accordance with claim 3 which means additionally includes a stationary external collar on the tubular member above the guide sleeve, said collar being adapted to compress the resilient means between said guide sleeve and said collar.

5. Means for inserting a treating mass in the form of a substantially elongated cylindrical stick into a well through a well conduit including a vertical string of well tubing and valve means in said well conduit adjacent the upper end of said tubing and adapted to control ilow through said conduit, said means comprising a support element rigidly attached to said conduit, an elongated tubular member, a guide sleeve on said tubular member adapted to permit limited longitudinal movement of said tubular member, link means having one end attached to said guide sleeve in a manner such that said tubular member may be alternately moved into and out of axial alignment with said conduit and the other end rigidly attached to said support element, said tubular member being sealed at its upper end and open at its lower end to permit insertion of said treating mass when said tubular member is out of axial alignment with said conduit and unrestricted passage of said treating mass from said tubular member into said conduit when said tubular member is in axial alignment with said conduit, detachable sealing means on said tubular member for connecting the lower end of said tubular member to the upper free end of said conduit in substantially fluid-tight relationship when said tubular member is in axial alignment with said conduit, and resilient means on said tubular member adapted to cause limited longitudinal movement of said tubular member away from the upper free end of said conduit upon detachment of said sealing means.

6. Means for inserting a treating mass in the form of a substantially elongated cylindrical stick into a well through a well conduit including a vertical string of well tubing and valve means in said well conduit adjacent the upper end of said tubing and adapted to control ow through said conduit, said means comprising a support element rigidly attached to said conduit, an elongated tubular member, a guide sleeve on said tubular member adapted to permit limited longitudinal movement of said tubular member, link means having one end attached to said guide sleeve in a manner such that said tubular member may be alternately moved into and out of axial alignment with said conduit and the other end rigidly attached to said support element, adjustable stop means on said sleeve adapted to bear against said link means and stop the movement of said tubular member when said tubular member is in axial alignment with said conduit, said tubular member being sealed at its upper end and open at its lower end to permit insertion of said treating mass when said tubular member is out of axial alignment with said conduit and unrestricted passage of said treating mass from said tubular member into said conduit when said tubular member is in axial alignment with said conduit,

detachable sealing means on said tubular member for connecting the lower end of said tubular member to the upper free end of said conduit in substantially fluid-tight relationship when said tubular member is in axial alignment with said conduit, and resilient means on said tubular member adapted to cause limited longitudinal movement of said tubular member away from the upper free end of said conduit upon detachment of said sealing means.

7. Means in accordance with claim 6 which means additionally includes a stationary external collar on the tubular member above the guide sleeve, said collar being adapted to compress the resilient means between said guide sleeve and said collar.

8. Means for inserting a treating mass in the form of a substantially elongated cylindrical stick into a well through a well conduit including a vertical string ol' well tubing and Valve means in said well conduit adjacent the upper end of said tubing and adapted to control flow through said conduit, said means comprising a support element rigidly attached to said conduit, an elongated tubular member, a guide sleeve on said tubular member adapted to permit limited longitudinal movement of said tubular member, link means having one end attached to said guide sleeve in a manner such that said tubular member may be alternately moved into and out of axial alignment with said well conduit and the opposite end attached to said support element in a manner such that said link means may be pivoted through a vertical plane about said support element, adjustable stop means on said sleeve, said stop means being adapted to bear against said link means and stop rotation of said tubular member when said tubular member is in axial alignment with said conduit, a second adjustable stop means on said sleeve, said second stop means adapted to bear against said link means and limit the rotation of said tubular member during movement out of axial alignment with said conduit, releasable lock means on said support element for arresting rotation of said link means about said support element when said link means is in substantially vertical position, said tubular member being sealed at its upper end and open at its lower end to permit insertion of said treating mass when said tubular member is out of axial alignment with said conduit and unrestricted passage of said treating mass from said tubular member into said conduit when said tubular member is in axial alignment with said conduit, detachable sealing means on said tubular member for connecting the lower end of said tubular member to the upper free end of said conduit in substantially fluid-tight relationship when said tubular member is in axial alignment with said conduit, and resilient means on said tubular member adapted to cause limited longitudinal movement of said tubular member away from the upper free end of said conduit upon detachment of said sealing means.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 23,583 Eilerts Nov. 18, 1952 2,125,762 Wheeler Aug. 2, 1938 2,257,269 Marsh et al Sept. 30, 1941 2,482,455 Bailey Sept. 20, 1949 

1. MEANS FOR INSERTING A TREATING MASS IN THE FORM OF A SUBSTANTIALLY ELONGATED CYCLINDRICAL STICK INTO A WELL THROUGH A WALL CONDUIT INCLUDING A VERTICAL STRING OF WALL TUBING AND VALVE MEANS IN SAID WELL CONDUIT ADJACENT THE UPPER END OF SAID TUBING AND ADAPTED TO CONTROL FLOW THROUGH SAID CONDUIT, SAID MEANS COMPRISING A SUPPORT ELEMENT RIGIDLY ATTACHED TO SAID CONDUIT AND CARRYING A PIVOT, AN ELONGATED TUBULAR MEMBER, CONNECTING MEANS HAVING ONE EXTREMITY ATTACHED TO SAID TUBULAR MEMBER AND THE OPPOSITE EXTREMITY MOUNTED ON SAID PIVOT AND ROTATABLE THEREON IN A MANNER SUCH THAT SAID TUBULAR MEMBER MAY BE ALTERNATELY MOVED INTO AND OUT OF AXIAL ALIGNMENT WITH SAID WELL CONDUIT, SAID TUBULAR MEMBER BEING SEALED AT ITS UPPER END AND OPEN AT ITS LOWER END TO PERMIT INSERTION OF SAID TREATING MASS WHEN SAID TUBULAR MEMBER IS OUT OF AXIAL ALIGNMENT WITH SAID CONDUIT AND 